Electrical relay



Feb. 16, 1 932. E, F NK 1,845,494

ELECTRICAL RELAY Filed June 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet J 31/ 32 2 I VEN TORBY W ' A TTORNEY Feb. 16, 1932. J. E. FUNK 7 1,845,494

ELECTRICAL RELAY Filed June 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EN TOR.

' ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOHN E. FUNK, OFIBLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY ELECTRICAL RELAY Application filed June 8, 1927.Serial No. 197,836.

This invention relates to electromagnetic relays and more particularlyto the provision of a rugged reliable electrically operated device whichmay be easily and cheaply manufactured and assembled.

A further object of the present invention relates to the provision of animproved electromagnetic responsive device arranged to be operated byalternating or pulsating current and having means for effectivelypreventing the effects of chatter.

Another object relates to the provision of an improved contact devicewhich may be readily adjusted both in the manufacture of the relay andafter the installation thereof.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a relayhaving contact arms in proximity to the base of the relay so as to beout of the way of the electricians tools and wires, and thus will not beeasily harmed.

Another feature relates to the provision of contacts and terminals whichare readily accessible.

Another feature relates to the provision of an improved mounting basefor the rela whereby undesirable leakage between the terminals isavoided.

Another feature relates to the provision of barriers effectivelyseparating the relay terminals so as to avoid leakage in case currentsof high voltage are to be connected to the relay.

Another feature relates to the provision of improved means forconducting current to the movable contact elements of the relay.

Still another feature relates to the provision of a relay having arelatively large movement of the movable contact springs, and thus hightension circuits may be safely controlled.

Another feature relates to the reduction of chatter when the relay isoperated by energy of periodic wave form.

Still another feature relates to the triple use of a single stamping,for terminating and protecting a pigtail connection, and for protectinga spring element from strains set up by fastening devices.

An important object of the invention is to reduce costs by the provisionof a relay embodying the foregoing features, which may be quicklyassembled in quantity production, and in which variations in manufactureare readily compensated for even in rapid assembly of the device.

Other objects will appear from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a relay embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the relay; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the yoke of the relay.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

In the following description and claims, parts characteristic featuresand functions will be identified by specific means for cony venience ofexpression, but they are intended to be as generic in their applicationto similar parts or equivalent construction as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a mounting base 10 formed of aninsulating material such as hard rubber or the like and provided on itslower face with a pair of spaced fillets 11, 12 serving to maintain theremaining portion of the lower face 13 of the base in spaced relationwith the surface 14 upon which the relay is mounted. The base 10 isperforated as at 15, 16, 17 for suitable screws (not shown) whereby thebase may be secured to the mounting surface 14. It will be noted by theuse of three such securing screws that a three point support is providedthus insuring a secure support, free of vibration.

For connecting the parts of the relay with the external circuit of whichthe relay is to form a part, there is provided in the upper face of thebase 10 a plurality of terminal members, the winding terminals beingdesignated as at 20, 21, the front contact terminals as at 22, 23, andthe movable contact spring terminals as at 24, 25. The terminal members20, 21, 24, are alike in construction and a description of one willsuffice for all. Each comprises a stamped metal plate 26 having, adepending ferrule or sleeve 27 snugly fitted in an aperture in the base10. The interior of the ferrule 27 is screw threaded for the receptionof a terminal screw 28. A second terminal screw 29 is similarly mountedand serves to maintain the end of the conductor of the exterior circuitto which the relay is to'be connected.

Similarly the terminals 22, 23 are provided in each case with a terminalscrew 32 serving to hold down the exterior conductor and-correspondingto the screw 29 of the ter- ,minal 25, but the inner end of each ofthese terminals is provided with a contact point vor abutment indicatedas at 33 in Figs. 1

and 4. The contact point 33 may preferably be made of a contact alloy.of conventional type, such asa platinum or silver alloy or other desiredcontact metal. The terminals 22, 23, 24, 25 which are located at thecorners of the base are provided with L shaped bar- .riers, such as 34,on the upper surface of the base 10 contiguous therewith so as to reduceelectrical leakage across the surface of the base. Similarly theintermediate terminals 20, 21 are provided with U shaped barriers suchas 35, on the upper surface of the base 10 contiguous therewith for thesame purpose.

The central portion of the upper face of .the base 10 is slightly raisedas'at 40 and there ismounted thereon an i. shaped yoke 41; formed ofparamagnetic material. The yoke 41-is securedin fixed positionto thebase 10 by means of a "pairof machine screws 42, 42 extending uhroughsuitable apertures in the baseIO. One leg of the yoke 41 extendssubstantially parallel with the upper face of the base 10. Anelectromagnet'43 is provided, including a core 44 of paramagnetic. ma-

terial upon which an energizing coil 45 is wound. The :core 44 issecured at one end to the upstanding leg of the yoke 41 by a machinescrew 47 there being interposed if desired between the .fixed end of thecore 44 and the proximate face ofthe yoke 41 a washer 48 formed ofadiamagnetic solid material su'ch' as brass. This washer serves as a gapin the magnetic circuit of the relay and efiectively prevents stickingof the armature. The horizontal leg of the yoke 41.is bifurcated (seeFig. 6.) and the'tines are per- 7 'forated asat 49 for a pivot pin to bedepair OfzthGSG holes,.a pairof flat head machine screws 52 respectivelyforming a support for a block of insulating material 51 extendingtransversely across the relay and form'- ing a bridge thereon. Mountedon each of the extremities of the bridge 51 is a terminal member as at53, 54, these being alike in construction so that a description of onewill suffice for both. Each comprises a bent mean strip 55 formedpreferably of'brass which may be bent into desired position andwhichwill hold its adjustment. One end of "the strip 55 is provided witha terminal screw 56 for engaging the end of the conductor of theexterior circuit to which the respective back contact of the relay is tobe connected. The free end of the strip 55 is provided with a contactpoint or abutment indicated as at 57, which may preferably be formed ofa contact alloy of conventional type such as a platinum or silver alloyor other desired contact metal. A. pair of barriers 58, 58 is providedon the block, 51, in

spaced relation, in order to reduce electrical leakage between theterminals 53, 54. a

An armature 60 formed of magnetizable material is pivotally mounted asby a pin 61 extending through the armature and through the alinedapertures 49 in the bifurcations 'eachof its ends an elongated movablecontact spring designated respectively 66, 67. The free end'of eachmovable contact spring is provided with a contact point indicatedas at68 formed of a contact alloy such as platinum or silver alloy or otherdesired contact material. A pair of barriers 63, 63 is provided on.theblock 64 in order to reduce electrical leakage between the movablesprings 66, 67;

For serving as an abutment for the rivets which maintain thecontactspring 66 in place on the block 64 there is provided a stamping 70illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. The stamping 70 is-preferablyformed of metal relatively thicker than that. of the movable contactsprings 66 or otherwise made relatively more sturdy. A pair of rivetssuch as 71, 71 extend successively through the block'64, the endportions of the respective contact springs 66, the stamping-70, thussecuring all three members together. The stamping 70, however, serves toprotect the relatively soft metal of the contact member 66 from thepressure exerted by the rivet head. The stamping 70 is latterly recessedas at 72, 7 3,

and there is secured midway between these recesses as at 74 a pigtailconductor 75, which forms a spiral loop around the stamping 7 O andterminates at its outer end under the head of the screw 28. Thus thestamping serves the additional functions of forming a terminal for thepigtail and for effectively protecting the pigtail against accidentaldamage by tools or otherwise. It is understood that the constructionillustrated in Fig. 5 is provided also for maintaining the other movablecontact spring 67.

The horizontal leg of the yoke 41 is provided with a pair of alinedslots as at 80, 81, one of the slots 81 being slightly wider than theother. A slidable member 82 formed of paramagnetic material is held inintimate contact with the face of the yoke 41 by means of a pair offilister head machine screws 83, 83 extending through the slots 80, 81respectively and into screw-threaded apertures in the member 82. Themember 82 has a transverse dimension slightly less than the distancebetween the bifurcations of the yoke 41 and extends slightly over theend edge 84 of the yoke between the bifurcations. The end of the member82 is provided with a shading coil 85, comprising at least one turn ofelectrically conducting material short circuited upon itself. Thearrangement is such that when the armature 60 is in its operatedposition the front face of the armature makes intimate contact with theend edge of the slidable member 82. It is understood that the adjustmentof the slidable member 82 is made during the assembly of the relay andthat this adjustment is such as to secure intimate magnetic contactbetween the armature 60 and the member 82 and is then fixed bytightening the screws 83. The provision of a slot 81 of relativelyincreased width permits slight angular displacement of the slidablemember 82 so as to compensate for variations in manufacture, or shoptolerances, which may result in the apertures 49, 49 of the two spacedtines of the yoke 41 being slightly out of alinement.

In the assembly of the relay the terminals 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 aresecured to the base 10. The fixed portion of the yoke 41 is then mountedon the base 10 by screws 42, 42. The slidable member 82 is looselymounted on the fixed element 41, but the screws 83, 83 are nottightened. The sub assembly comprising the bridge 51, and the backcontacts 53, 54 is mounted on the yoke 41, a selection of the holes 50being made in accordance with the operating requirements which theparticular relaybeing assembled is expected to meet. If it 1s desiredfor example, that the relay operate under relatively small current thelowermost hole 50 isselected; or if a higher current flow is to'be usedthe upper hole is selected. The electromagnet 43 comprising the core 44and the winding 45 is now mounted upon the upstanding leg of the yoke 41by means of the screw 47, a washer 48 being interposed in the magneticcircuit at this point to provide a gap whereby sticking of the relayafter having been operated, is effectively prevented. The screw 47 istightened as much as possible. The pigtails 75 are attached to theterminals 24, 25 by the screws 30. The sub assembly comprising thearmature 60, the weight 62, the block 64, the springs 66, 67 held by astamping 70 is now pivotally mounted on the horizontal leg of the yoke41 by means of the pin 61. Current is now applied to the winding 45 toattract the armature 60. The front face of the armature contacts withthe free end of the core 44, but there may be considerable lost motionat the pin 61, or at one of the tines of the yoke 41. Such lost motionmay result from variations in shop manufacture which are unavoidable andexpectant in high speed quantity production. All of the lost motion maybe eliminated, however, and the magnetic gap at the hinge of thearmature fully closed, in the operative position of the armature bymoving the slidable member 82 into intimate contact with the front faceof thearmature. The member 82 may be slightly rotated about the apertureif necessary to take up discrepancies in alinement of the aperturesthrough the spaced tines. When a snug contact has been secured thescrews 83, 83 are tightened so as to maintain the member 82 in fixedposition relative to the fixed portion of the yoke 41. A fine adjustmentof the back contacts may now be made by bending the strips 55. A coarseadjustment of the back contacts 53, 54 with consequent modification ofthe normal operating current required to attract the armature, is madeby selecting the desired hole 50 for the insertion of the member 52. Afiner adjustment may be made subsequently however, by bending the strip55, the arrangement being such that the path of travel of the contactpoint 57 resulting from such bending of the respective spring is arotary one and is such that the contact point remains within the zone ofengagement with the contact point 68 of the movable spring member.

In operation, assume that the terminals 20, 21 are connected intocircuit with a source of energy for operating the relay and that theterminals 24, 25 are connected to that portion of a circuit which is tobe switched, and that the terminals 53, 54 are connected to that portionof the exterior circuit which is normally in circuit but is disconnectedupon'the operation of the relay, and that the terminals 22, 23 areconnected to that portion of the exterior circuit which is normally outof circuit but is to be connected into circuit when the relay isenergized. It may be assumed, however, that various functions of therelay may be dispensed with if desired. For example, the relay may beemployed in any of the following five combinations, the firstcombination being that just described:

FB FB FB F FB B F F F B rent energizes the winding 15 of the coil as andcauses energization of the electromagnetic structure of the relay. Thearmature 60 is thereupon attracted and is moved from the position ofFig. 3 into the position of Fig. 1.

Movement of the armature in the clockwise direction indicated in thedrawings causes movement of the movable contactsprings 66, 67, carryingthe contacts 68 thereof away from the back contacts 54, 53 respectivelyand thus breaking'the external circuit associated with the backcontacts. In the energized position of the relay the contact points 68of the movable contact springs 66, 67 make contact with the contacts 33of the terminals 28, 22 respectively, and thus establish that portion ofthe external circuit connected thereto. If the operating current isalternating or intermittent in character, each change in magneto motiveforce causes the lines of force to cut the shading coil 85, producing inthis coil momentary currents, which in turn set up momentarily amagnetic field tending to avoid chattering at the magnetic gap near thecoil. For example, the shading coil 85 effectively prevents chatter ofthe armature 60 with respect to the sliding member 82. V

Thus the relay will remain in its operative position even when operatedon alternating or pulsating currents, and may also of course be operatedon direct current. In the latter case, the shading coils may be omitted.

When the circuit of the winding 45 is broken the device is deenergizedand the armature 60 returns by virtue of the weight 62 to the normalposition shown in Fig. 3. The movable contact springs 66, 67 are thenrotated in a counter clockwise direction, breaking the front contactcircuits respectively and again closing the back contact circuits. Therelay is now ready for a subsequent use in like manner.

Theinvention upon which this application is based is broader than thespecific embodiment shown and described for the'purpose of illustratingat least one of the ways in which it may be employed. The scope of theinvention is therefore to be understood as not being limited by thepresent specific description. I intend no limitations other than thoseimposed by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electromagnetic device, an elect-romagnet having a magneticreturn element, an armature, means for mounting said armature in suchposition as to normally leave an air gap between the armature and saidelement when the armature is in closed position, and a slidable magneticmember including a short circuited winding arranged to be locked infixed position for wholly closing said air gap when said armature is inclosed position.

2. In an electromagnetic device, an electromagnet having a returnelement, an armature pivotally mounted on said element in such positionas to leave an air gap, a slidable member arranged to be secured infixed position for wholly closing said air gap, and a shading coilmounted on said slidable member for effectively preventing chatter atthe contact between the armature and said member. I

3. In an electromagnetic device, the combination with a magnetizableyoke comprising a fixed portion and a portion movable relative thereto,of an armature p-ivotally secured to the fixed portion and in contactwith the movable portion, a coil secured to the fixed portion, and meansfor maintaining said yoke portions relatively fixed.

4. In an electromagnetic device, an electromagnet having a fixedelement, an armature pivotally mounted on said fixed element in suchposition as to leave an air gap between the armature and the fixedelement, a takeup member movably mounted to take up said gap, and ashading coil mounted on said movable member for effectively preventingchatter of the armature. V r 5. An electromagnetic device having ahinged armature, a moving plate arranged to make intimate contact withsaid armature in the operated position thereof, and a shading coil nearsaid contacttoprevent chatter.

6. In an electromagnetic device, the combination with an electromagnethaving a magnetic return element, an armature, meansfor mounting saidarmature in such position as to normally leave an air gap between thearmature and said element when said armature is in closed-position, amovable member in said mounting means arranged to be locked in fixedposition for wholly closing said air gap, and means for preventingchatter comprising a shading coil mounted on said movable member.

7 In an electromagnetic device, the combination with a magneti'zableyoke comprising a fixed bifurcated portion and a portion movablerelative thereto, of an armature rotatably mounted between thebifurcations of the fixed portion, means for securing said movableportion in contact with said armature, and a solenoid for actuating saidarmature.

8. In a relay device, an electromagnetic structure including a fixedelement and a slidable element, magnetic means for energizing thedevice, an armature attracted upon energization thereof and arranged tomake intimate contact with said slidable element, a plurality of movablecontact springs carried y said armature, a plurality of back contactsengaging said movable springs in the normal position, of the relay, aninsulatin block supporting said back contacts, an

means for selectively securing said block to said fixed element.

9. In a relay, an armature, an insulating block mounted on saidarmature, a plurality of movable contact springs, a plurality offlexible conductors for conducting current to said contact springsrespectively, fastening devices and means comprising a correspondingplurality of stampings each serving to terminate the respective flexibleconductor,

and as an abutment for the fastening devices.

10. In a relay, an armature, an insulating block mounted on saidarmature, a plurality of movable contact springs, a plurality offlexible conductors for conducting current to said contact springsrespectively, fastening devices, and means comprising a correspondingplurality of stampings each having a plurality of notches to registerwith the respective flexible conductor and each serving to terminate therespective flexible conductor to shield said conductor, and as anabutment for the fastening devices.

11. In an electromagnetic device, an electromagnet having a return yokeand an armature, means for mounting said armaturre in such position asto leave an air gap between the armature and the yoke when said armatureis in closed position, and means associated with the yoke for relativelyadjusting said armature and said yoke whereby said an gap may be closedwhen said armature is in operative position.

12. In an electromagnetic device, an electromagnet having a returncircuit, said return circuit being formed with a pair of tines, ashading coil mounted between said tines, and an armature normallycontacting with both of said tines and with the core of saidelectromagnet to effect a third point contact with said armature.

Si ned at Newark in the county of Essex and tate of New Jersey this 6thday of June JOHN E. FUNK.

